Exploring a peer-based physical activity program in the community for adults with moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury

ABSTRACT

Primary Objective

To explore the experiences of program mentors, participants, and employees involved in a peer-based physical activity (PA) program for adults with moderate-to-severe TBI, being piloted by a community fitness center, to develop the program as a measurable intervention.

Research Design

We adopted an exploratory case study approach through an interpretivist paradigm, which focused on discovering realities about the peer-based PA program across the study participants’ views, backgrounds, and experiences.

Methods and Procedures

Semi-structured focus groups and individual interviews were conducted with nine adult program participants (3 peer mentors, 6 participants), and three program employees. Inductive content analysis was used to develop themes about their perceived experiences.

Main Outcomes and Results

44 open-codes were grouped into 10 subthemes and three final themes: 1) program impacts identified the importance of the program in daily life and resulting psychological, physical, and social outcomes; 2) program characteristics highlighted program leaders, accessibility, and social inclusion; 3) program sustainability included program adherence, benefits for the center, and the program’s future.

Conclusions

Perceptions of program experiences and outcomes identified how peer-based PA for adults with moderate-to-severe TBI can lead to meaningful activities, functioning better, and buy-in from all parties. Implications for research and practice related to supporting health-related behaviors after TBI through group-based, autonomy-supporting approaches are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Traumatic brain injury
• peer
• physical activity
• community
• program

Acknowledgments

We thank all participants in the peer-based physical activity program and gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of our community partners the YMCA and TBI Association.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada [Insight Grant #504363]; Sport Participation Research Initiative [Grant #506014]; Inclusive Society; and in part from the Canada Research Chairs Program [CRC-2019-00019].